The Effect of Resistance Training with Tribulus terrestris Extract on Apoptosis of Heart Tissue in Rats

Apoptosis is a regulated process that ensures cell tissue homeostasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a period of resistance training and consumption of Tribulus terrestris extract on cardiac tissue apoptosis in rats.

In this experimental study, 24 Sprague-Dovali rats with a weight range of 150 to 200 g and a mean age of 8 weeks were randomly divided into four groups (control, Tribulus terrestris extract, resistance training and resistance training + Tribulus terrestris). Resistance training program was performed for eight weeks and three sessions per week. Tribulus terrestris extract (100 mg / kg body weight) was injected intraperitoneally daily. Expression of caspase-3 BAX and BCL2 of heart tissue was measured by Real time PCR. . Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to investigate the normality of the findings and one-way analysis of variance with Tukey post hoc test in SPSS software was used to analyze the findings (P≥0.05).

There was a significant difference between the mean of caspase-3 BAX and BCL2 of cardiac tissue (P ≤ 0.001). (P ≤ 0.001). Also, BAX gene expression was significantly reduced in the resistance training group + thistle compared to the control, tribulus terrestris and resistance training groups (P = 0.002). However, the levels of BCl2 as an anti-apoptotic agent in the resistance training group + tribulus terrestris were significantly increased compared to the control groups, tribulus terrestris and resistance training (P ≤ 0.001).

According to the findings of the present study, it seems that resistance training and tribulus terrestris supplementation can have a preventive effect on cardiac apoptosis by reducing the expression of caspase 3 and BAX gene and increasing BCl2.